Drip-pan signal.



J. E. AMERMAN.

DRIP PAN SIGNAL. APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 11. I916.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

I gl-wuewto c JOHN E. AMERMAN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DRIP-PAN SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Application filed March 17, 1916. Serial No. 84,890.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN E. AMERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drip-Pan Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drip pan alarms and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide an alarm of simple and durable structure adapted to be applied to the drip pan of a refrigerator and adapted to automatically operate when the level of the water in the pan assumes the predetermined level to give notice that the pan should be emptied of its contents.

With the above object in view the structure includes a bracket having clip portions adapted to grip the sides of a pan there being mounted uponthe said bracket a spring actuated bell adapted when released to sound an alarm. A float is movably mounted upon the bracket and a spring is connected with the said float and extends along one of the arms of the bracket and is provided with a loop which normally holds the vibrator of the bell against movement. When the water in the pan assumes a predetermined level the float is elevated whereby the said spring is compressed along that arm of the bracket about which it is disposed and the loop which is carried by the spring is moved so that the vibrator of the bell may swing back and forth thus permitting the bell to sound the alarm.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the alarm with parts in section and showing the same applied to a pan. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bracket used in the alarm structure.

The drip pan alarm includes a bracket 1 which is formed from a single piece of wire having clip portions 2 formedthereon and which are adapted to receive the side portion of a pan 3 as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The bracket 1 is substantially U-shaped in side elevation and a spring actuated bell 4 is mounted at the upper intermediate portion of the said bracket. The bell 4 includes a vibrator 5 of usual pattern and which swings back and forth when the bell 4; is sounded. A float 6 is slidably mounted upon one arm of the bracket 1 and the said float is positioned within the walls of the pan 3. A spring 7 is connected at one end with the float 6 and is coiled around one arm of the bracket 1. The spring 7 is provided at its upper end with a loop 8 which receives the vibrator 5 of the bell structure.

When the float 6 is in a lowered position in the pan 3 the'spring 7 is extended whereby the vibrator 5 is held in contact with one end of the loop 8. Thus the said vibrator 5 is held against movement and the bell 4 remains silent. When the water in the pan 3 rises the float 6 is elevated whereby the intermediate portion of the spring 7 is compressed and the upper convolution of the spring is moved around the bend at the side of the bracket and the loop 8 is moved so that the vibrator assumes a position substantially at the center thereof and the said vibrator is thus rendered free to swing back and forth and permit the bell 4 to sound an alarm.

Having described the invention what is claimed is A drip pan alarm comprising a bracket, means for securing the bracket to a pan, a float movably mounted upon the bracket, an alarm mounted on the bracket, a spring connected at one end with the float and having convolutions which receive a portion of the bracket and a loop carried by the spring and adapted to receive the vibrator of the alarm and hold the same in an inactive position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. AMERMAN.

Witnesses:

ANNA V. DOYLE, CHRIs FEINLE, Jr.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the: "commissioner or ratents,

Washington, D. G." 

